Suspected Improper Payments Lead to J and J Chairman Retirement

February 15, 2007 – According to the Wall Street Journal, Johnson and Johnson has recently announced the retirement of Michael J. Dormer, worldwide chairman for Medical Devices and Diagnostics, due to the alleged disclosure of improper payments to selected foreign governments for the sale of medical devices.

All worldwide medical devices and diagnostics business will now report to Nicholas J. Valeriani, who is currently the worldwide chairman. Dormer was formerly in charge of the Ethicon, Ethicon Endo-Surgery and DePuy divisions.

The payments under investigation may fall within the jurisdiction of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.